How to Grow Hydroponic Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the superstar of hydroponics — grown more than almost any other crop worldwide. Whether you’re a hobbyist starting your first setup or a grower looking to diversify, mastering hydroponic tomatoes can deliver year-round yields, big trusses, and unbeatable flavour.

In this guide I share my top tips for growing perfect tomatoes hydroponically without overcomplicating things.

1. Choose the Right Tomato Variety

Your success begins with variety selection. Pick tomatoes based on how fast you want results and the space you have.

Fast-growing options for beginners:

📌 Indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and fruiting continuously — ideal for long-term NFT systems.
Determinate types grow to a set height — easier for small tents or pots.

2. Pinch Out Side Shoots (Suckering) for Higher Yield

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is letting tomato plants turn into bushy monsters. It looks impressive — but produces weak fruit.

• Remove side shoots that grow between the main stem and leaf branches
• Do this once or twice a week
• Focus the plant’s energy into fruit production, not foliage

3. Defoliate — But Slowly!

Removing leaves helps airflow, reduces mold and pest pressure, and improves light penetration — but don’t strip it all at once.

• Remove a few leaves each day, not all at once
• Prioritize yellowing or overlapping leaves
• Aim for a clean, breathable canopy

Sudden defoliation can stress the plant, interrupt water flow, and cause fruit cracking — especially in hydroponics.

4. Consistent Watering Prevents Blossom End Rot

If your tomato bottoms turn black and sunken, that’s blossom end rot — usually due to inconsistent watering, not lack of nutrients.

✅ Keep your NFT flow constant
✅ If you grow in coco, never let it fully dry
✅ Keep EC balanced — too high and plants struggle to absorb calcium

Timers and monitoring go a long way here!

5. Protect Against Whitefly

Whitefly love tomatoes more than most hydroponic crops.

To control them:

• Use yellow sticky traps
• Release Encarsia formosa (predatory wasp)
• Apply bio-insecticides if needed
• Keep your canopy defoliated for airflow

6. Pollinate by Hand (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but in a still indoor environment, they need vibration to release pollen.

Try:

• Electric toothbrush
• Paintbrush
• Finger flicking the flowers ✅ (scientifically approved technique)

7. Trellis, Clip, and Support Early

Tomato plants will not support themselves — get them off the floor!

Use:

• Trellising lines
• Plant clips
• Cages or strings

This not only keeps airflow high but prevents stem snap later.

8. Harvest Often for Continuous Production

The more you pick, the more tomatoes you get.

• Harvest when fruit turns from orange to red
• Don’t let ripe ones sit on the vine — they attract pests

Hydroponic Tomato Quick Checklist ✅

Final Thoughts

Hydroponic tomatoes offer year-round production, massive yields, and none of the usual garden frustrations like frosts or blight — but they do demand consistent care. Liquid Gold is a really good All-In-One fertiliser to grow those tomatoes perfectly in any hydroponic system or even hand feeding!

Article by Dr Russell Sharp

If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:

Hydroponics Daily Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hydroponics-daily/id1788172771

Cereal Killers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cereal-killers/id1695783663